We may receive compensation when you click on links to those products. At this checkpoint, an agent told me that if I wanted to present a vaccine card, that was the time to do so. - Only non-vaccinated guests will be required to present a negative test (an antigen test taken within 48 hours or a PCR test taken within 72 hours) to board. Unvaccinated guests will be allowed to use the results of a self-administered test if taken within three days of sailing. Unfortunately, the announcement didn't come in time for this voyage. 2023 TheStreet, Inc. All rights reserved. Like what you see? Guests under the age of 12 do not have any testing requirements. From there, I went to the second floor to check in. "We want you to be more comfortable walking onboard a ship than walking down Main Street.". Check here before booking an award fare. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. This card is also incredibly rewarding for travel purchases, helping you rack up a ton of Membership Rewards points for your next award trip. Sign up for notifications from Insider! The update on the health protocols for Royal Caribbean ships came in a letter sent to travel agents, which are now also available online. The cruise line Royal Caribbean is requiring passengers and crew members 16 or older . For example, The announcement is a reversal from previous statements and vaccine protocols the company submitted to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention last month that said it would require all passengers at least 18 years old and older to be vaccinated. All Guests, All Aboard," Royal Caribbean's President and CEO Michael Bayley wrote on Facebook. Guests are also required to wear masks in all indoor public areas, in terminals, and during shore excursions, and take a COVID-19 rapid antigen test before boarding. Opinions expressed here are the authors alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities. On Friday, Royal Caribbean announced new seven-night cruises aboard the Adventure of the Seas cruise ship that will depart from Nassau in the Bahamas starting in June. That's why precruise testing is likely to go away but the vaccination requirement for all passengers ages 12 and over will remain. Royal Caribbean International has announced it won't require US passengers to get vaccinated to go on several ships set to sail this summer. User @drsimonegold tweeted: "WOW: @RoyalCaribbean cruises is now requiring you to get an experimental vaccine to book a cruise with them. Previously, certain areas onboard. However, passengers on U.S.-based voyages should be aware that protocols are likely to differ by cruise line, ship and departure state. The venue was open to both vaccinated and unvaccinated passengers. The CDC has so far approved nine cruise ships, including Freedom of the Seas, Carnival Horizon and MSC Meraviglia from PortMiami, for test cruises, meaning the ships wont meet a CDC threshold of 95% of passengers and 98% of crew be vaccinated, and two ships Celebrity Edge and Celebrity Equinox from Port Everglades for revenue cruises. Carnival, Royal Caribbean cruises loosen coronavirus testing rules Norwegian's moves to loosen pandemic-era protocols follow similar decisions by industry leaders Carnival and Royal. . Royal Caribbean extended the suspension of sailings for its global fleet through May 31 (excluding cruises aboard the Quantum, Spectrum, Voyager and Odyssey of the Seas cruise ships) "in order to allow additional time for our return to service preparations," the company said in a statement on March 19. The summer cruises announced by Royal Caribbean International Friday are still pending approval from the CDC after each ship successfully completes a test cruise with volunteer passengers. ", Everyone Practices Cancel Culture | Opinion, Deplatforming Free Speech is Dangerous | Opinion, Quantum of the Seas: "Alaska sailings departing April 5 to October 14, 2021: In order to allow additional time for our preparation, Quantum of the Seas will remain in the Asia-Pacific region. Thats what you may see as soon as next month with the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic still a public health emergency. Royal Caribbean Will Not Allow Any Unvaccinated Guests Worldwide According to the statement made by Michael Bayley, Royal Caribbean will not be allowing any guests onboard who have not been. The major cruise line previously mandated the covid vaccine for crew members only. In Nassau, vaccinated passengers were allowed to explore however they wished, but unvaccinated cruisers were required to take ship-sponsored excursions to leave the ship. In exchange for the annual fee, you'll unlock access to the Amex Membership Rewards program that let you access airline and hotel transfer partners, along with new lifestyle and travel credits. During one performance, I went to the theater's upper level (where anyone, including unvaccinated passengers, was able to sit) to see what it was like. Read more: Carnival and Royal Caribbean salaries revealed: From $32,000 to $383,000, here's how much the cruise industry's power players pay some of their employees. According to CDC rules, cruise ships that dont meet certain vaccination thresholds for passengers and crew must first do a successful test cruise before they can restart revenue cruises. While vaccination is not required for guests under 12, we kindly ask that you fill out their status below. No, you need to bring the card. Royal Caribbean just announced a new collection of seven-night summer cruises to the Bahamas and Mexico, but don't consider booking a spot unless you plan on being fully vaccinated against. Passengers also had to select specific check-in times for embarkation day, ensuring that crowds stayed thin at the terminal during the boarding process. Carnival, Royal Caribbean and more to drop vaccination requirements for select sailings. The new Florida law can leave businesses like cruise ship lines caught between a rock and a hard place. Bayley said during the President's Cruise that testing would "be around for another couple of months.". Guests who are fully vaccinated or age 17 and younger do not have any testing requirements. The cruises will depart from Bermuda and the Bahamas, and adult passengers must be. $200 Airline Fee Credit: Get up to $200 in statement credits per calendar year in baggage fees and more at one select qualifying airline. But against the context of everything we've seen, [that's] truly been a remarkable success.". Stay up to date with what you want to know. "I'm skeptical that's going to change in the real short term. Many and most of the destinations that we visit require a high degree of vaccination, and they expect our crew to be vaccinated.". Joe Raedle / Getty . In the testing area, they were each given an on-site rapid antigen test. This card comes with a long list of benefits, including access to Centurion Lounges, complimentary elite status with Hilton and Marriott, at least $500 in assorted annual statement credits and so much more. The graphic below, produced by Statista, illustrates the spread of COVID-19 in the U.S. Newsweek, in partnership with NewsGuard, is dedicated to providing accurate and verifiable vaccine and health information. ", The cruise industry came to a halt last year amid the COVID-19 outbreak. CDC stops reporting coronavirus cases on cruise ships. These may not be available during your voyage, may vary by ship and destination, and may be subject to change without notice. The current welcome offer on this card is quite lucrative. - As of the winter 2022 Caribbean and Central America season, Star Clippers no longer requires COVID-19 vaccinations for passengers. Copyright 2022 Travel + Leisure Co. All Rights Reserved. Silversea also provides complimentary rapid antigen tests for all disembarking passengers. Maarten.". How do you count the 14 days for full vaccination, exactly? Interestingly, certain shows -- such as the ice show in Studio B -- required reservations due to their lower capacity. On sailings of a certain length, further requirements for unvaccinated passengers include two more tests after embarkation: one during the sailing and one just prior to departure from the ship. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have removed the COVID-19 Program for Cruise Ships as of Monday. Our goal has been to provide our readers with expansive coverage of all aspects of the Royal Caribbean experience. This is one of many changes in Royal Caribbean's approach to Covid-19, which has steadily seen health protocols erode in order to be closer to other forms of leisure travel. The 14 day time period starts the day you get your last dose. MIAMI Royal Caribbean International will no longer require any of its cruise passengers to be vaccinated for COVID-19 as it had previously planned to. With NewsGuard's HealthGuard browser extension, users can verify if a website is a trustworthy source of health information. You can follow her daily exploits, both at sea and on land, on Instagram or Twitter @slyjabroni. Lindblad, Silversea, Azamara cruise lines will require the additional COVID-19 vaccine dose for those eligible starting March 1. Royal Caribbean recommends guests be fully vaccinated and boostered against Covid19. As summer travelers prepare to sail, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is lowering its threshold for cruise ships to meet a highly vaccinated status. Hawaii. Enrollment required. Image source: Dukas/Universal Images Group via Getty Images. ", "This means that we're transitioning to the point where everyone will be able to vacation with us while always working with our destination partners to meet their regulations.". Watch News 6 as they cover breaking local, regional, and national news, plus the latest updates on weather, traffic and sports. For cruises longer than 16 nights self-testing is not accepted for unvaccinated travelers. The announcement of these select vaccinated cruises later resulted in boycott demands in late March across Facebook and Twitter. All guests aged 4 and older are required to have a negative COVID-19 test before boarding. Royal Caribbean has announced a COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests. Azamara does not require negative test results in order to board unless mandated by local governments in the ports where the line's ships sail. Apparently, Dolven is referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law a ban on Covid-19 "vaccine passports.". Samantha started at WKMG-TV in September 2020. What if I am not feeling well in the days leading up to my cruise? You're supposed to take a covid test two days before either at a testing center or with a proctored testing kit that they sell on their website and the test kit does have an app to show your results. In late June, the Royal Caribbean cruise line will, be allowed to operate test cruises out of South Florida after receiving approval from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Cov. Meanwhile, Hawaii is set to abolish inter-island travel restrictions, but . With few exceptions, Royal Caribbean has dropped its pre-cruise testing requirements across the board. Hmm in my country there are no physical vaccination cards. Starting July 2, Royal Caribbean ships will not be requiring passengers to have covid vaccines for sailings from the U.S. Unfortunately, the announcement didn't come in time for this voyage. Lyan Sierra-Caro, a spokesperson for Royal Caribbean International, said the plans to require passengers be vaccinated that the company submitted to the CDC only applied to its test cruises. Thats (Enrollment required for select benefits.). Under the voluntary program, the CDC had been tracking covid levels on ships, assigning color levels based on positive tests and exposures. Additionally, Celebrity Cruises will allow unvaccinated travelers starting Sept. 5 on all cruises that depart from a U.S. or European port, excluding cruises that visit Canada, according to the company. About half of the U.S. population is now fully vaccinated, which means plenty of people still have not been vaccinated. Royal Caribbean, Carnival, and Norwegian all require anyone 12 and older sailing on their ships to be fully. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. "Lindblad Expeditions has announced that effective March 1, 2022, all guests 12 years of age and over who completed their primary vaccination series more than 5 months ago, are required to present proof of booster prior to embarkation," the cruise line said in a statement shared with Travel + Leisure. With your support, we can create more exciting content and share with everyone! Vacation cruising has nearly returned to normal. -10. This includes unsupervised testing. Royal Caribbean Cruises Starting September 5, 2022, all guests can sail with Royal Caribbean, regardless of vaccination status. Follow her adventures on Instagram. Vaccinated travelers will not be required to get tested for cruises that are 9 nights or less. An aerial view of Royal Caribbean's Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked in Miami, Florida on March 2. The initial phase requires crew screening to determine the prevalence of COVID-19 among all crew members currently on cruise ships in U.S. waters," the health body advises. Or do we need the physical card? Additionally -- following the first departure of Adventure of the Seas two weeks ago when two teenagers tested positive and were flown home at Royal Caribbean's expense -- unvaccinated cruisers had to purchase special travel insurance. Rather, we focus on discussions related to local stories by our own staff. Get up to $300 back per calendar year on the Equinox+ digital fitness app, or eligible Equinox club memberships when you pay with your Platinum Card. This closure is related to staffing and the logistics of keeping passengers socially distanced, despite the fact that the ship was sailing at less than 30% capacity and 93% of passengers were vaccinated. The Seattle Times does not append comment threads to stories from wire services such as the Associated Press, The New York Times, The Washington Post or Bloomberg News. However, it shied away from creating a blanket COVID-19 vaccine mandate for guests, although the cruise line previously said it would expect crew members to be vaccinated before sailings return. "Effective November 2, 2022, all travelers on U.S. sailings regardless of vaccination status will no longer require pre-departure testing (excludes sailings to Colombia, Haiti, & Honduras)." Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival cruise lines are easing their pandemic-era protocol by allowing unvaccinated travelers on more sailings, as well as accepting at-home COVID-19 tests. I showed mine, and the agent gave me a purple rubber bracelet to wear. Alison Fox is a contributing writer for Travel + Leisure. Royal Caribbean, Celebrity, and Carnival cruise lines are easing their pandemic-era protocol by allowing unvaccinated travelers on more sailings, as well as accepting at-home COVID-19 tests for boarding. 20102023Regal Sea Media LLC. Earn 5X Membership Rewards Points for flights booked directly with airlines or with American Express Travel up to $500,000 on these purchases per calendar year. #BoycottRC." The Amex Platinum comes with access to a premium concierge service that can help you with everything from booking hard-to-get reservations to finding destination guides to help you plan out your next getaway. No Covid test, proof of vaccination or quarantine is required. CDC will continue to publish guidance to help cruise ships continue to provide a safer and healthier environment for passengers, crew and communities going forward. Crew will be tested regularly while on board. Plus, your own feed of TPG content. Please complete the short form below. You must have JavaScript enabled to use this form. I am a writer, journalist, professor, systems modeler, computational and digital health expert, avocado-eater, and entrepreneur, not always in that order. Royal Caribbean sent out an update on Wednesday with new protocols that have removed the need to conduct a pre-cruise Covid-19 test, even if you are unvaccinated. Check directly with your cruise line about their COVID-19 testing or vaccination protocols before travel. Starting Sept. 5, Royal Caribbean will welcome both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers of all ages, according to the cruise line. Wristbands were also diligently checked in spaces intended for vaccinated cruisers. Vaccinated travelers will be exempt from testing on cruises that are shorter than 10 nights, while unvaccinated travelers 5 and older will have to show proof of a negative test taken within three days of embarking on a sailing. Best card for premium perks while traveling, Capital One Venture X Rewards Credit Card, The Business Platinum Card from American Express, Credit card showdown: Alaska Airlines Visa vs. Alaska Airlines Business Visa, Disney Cruise Lines Castaway Club loyalty program: Everything you need to know, 21 new Hyatt hotels where you can get 500 extra points per night. St. Maarten / St. Martin : open to vaccinated and unvaccinated . Following August 1, this age requirement will fall to 12 years old or older. Unvaccinated travelers (who are 5 and older on most U.S. sailings and 12 and older on select European sailings) will be required to get tested within three days of boarding. The cruise line said that it would only "strongly". In addition to having more rules in place than some other cruise lines, Royal Caribbean also enforced those protocols more strictly, with crew checking for wristbands in vaccinated-only venues and checking for masks in indoor places accessible to everyone. On my way, I passed lots of hand sanitizer dispensers and signs reminding people about social distancing and masks. Day 1. Related: Cruise hack: 6 ways to turn a voyage on a mass-market ship into a luxury experience. If you are sailing on a cruise that departs on or before April 30, 2023, you will receive: 100% cruise fare refund for you and your Travelling Party, if any of you test positive for COVID-19 within 10 days prior to the cruise or at the terminal. Join half a million readers enjoying Newsweek's free newsletters, An aerial view of Royal Caribbeans Navigator of the Sea cruise ship docked in Miami, Florida on March 2. User @HardLinesBlog tweeted: "I'm saying goodbye to all venues moving to this requirement," in response to the tweet by @drsimonegold. Royal Caribbean CEO Michael Bayley shared some numbers the CDC had given to him, during his remarks to passengers on the 2022 President's Cruise, Royal Caribbean Blog first reported. The US hasn't mandated the COVID vaccine for all eager cruiser goers, but the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has said that cruise lines with 98% of crew and 95% of passengers vaccinated can skip the "simulated voyages" that would otherwise be necessary for cruise lines to resume "restricted passenger voyages" again. If not, just leave blank, Royal Caribbean drops pre-cruise testing requirement for almost all cruises, Royal Caribbean Group CEO says decision will be made if covid vaccine will be mandatory to cruise, Royal Caribbean has not decided on any more cancellations following Norwegian Cruise Line announcement, Two crew members with coronavirus evacuated from Oasis of the Seas, Royal Caribbean stock surges after COVID-19 vaccine tests are more than 90% effective, Royal Caribbean bolsters financial situation with $3.48 billion in backup financing, You might have to take a COVID-19 test to go on a Royal Caribbean cruise in the future. For an explanation of our Advertising Policy, visit. While vaccination is not required, they kindly ask passengers to disclose their vaccine status during check-in. MAGAs are starting to boycott Royal Caribbean because they are requiring vaccinations for adult passengers and crew members when they start sailing again in June. Royal Caribbean Group CEO Jason Liberty spoke about the change during an earnings call with investors earlier this year and said the change is a move to be more like other forms of leisure travel, such as theme parks, casinos, or air travel. Well, heres what Dolven tweeted: Apparently, Dolven is referring to Florida Governor Ron DeSantis recently signing into law a ban on Covid-19 vaccine passports. That means, as of July 1, the Florida state government could fine a cruise ship operator $5,000 each and every time the cruise ship operator requires proof of vaccination to use their services. Coronavirus has infected more than 123.3 million people, including over 29.8 million in the U.S., since it was first reported in Wuhan, China. I saw a couple of crew members nicely ask passengers to pull their masks up over their noses in public spaces (and they complied). Many cruise fans and potential passengers may expect that this CDC decision means that vaccine requirements and precruise testing may soon go away. After 14 days pass, you can get onboard on Day 15. As on most ships these days, there were also Purell hand sanitizer dispensers at the entrances to all restaurants, bars, lounges and other public areas, as well as in stairwells and elevator alcoves. Breeze through security with CLEAR lanes available at 100+ airports, stadiums, and entertainment venues and get up to $189 back per calendar year on your membership when you use your Card. Offers may be subject to change without notice. For non-U.S. guests, the line will also accept Astra-Zeneca.". When Royal Caribbean resumed cruises in 2021, Covid-19 protocols were a major component to the onboard experience. The cruise company's new sailings from the Bahamas will require all adult guests "to be . Changes involve the cruise line eliminating the vaccinated and unvaccinated areas onboard its ships. Unvaccinated passengers can cruise with negative results from any commercially available test, including self-tests. "The no vaccine question is is a huge question that none of us know the answer to," Bayley said. More Cruise Lines to Start Allowing Unvaccinated Passengers on Board, These Major Cruise Lines Just Dropped COVID-19 Testing Requirements for Shorter Sailings What to Know, Norwegian Cruises to Allow Unvaccinated Passengers Starting in September, Anguilla Just Dropped Its Pre-arrival Testing for Vaccinated Travelers What to Know, 10 of the Best Mediterranean Cruises for Every Type of Traveler, New Zealand Eliminates Vaccine, Testing Requirements for Travel What to Know, The CDC Will No Longer Report COVID-19 Cases on Cruises to the Public. Guests under this age requirement who haven't been vaccinated will instead have to be tested for the virus. More than 2.7 million people have died worldwide and more than 69.9 million have recovered as of Monday, according to Johns Hopkins University. These restrictions include wearing a mask in most public spaces and limitations on areas and services unvaccinated passengers can access. Similarly, passengers 18 years old or older sailing from other international ports will also have to be fully vaccinated. Some destinations may also require testing, so no change in policy is likely to be absolute, but the CDC's decision does seem to pave the way for the cruise lines to mostly drop the testing requirement. Cruises from Australia are also not included in this policy change. News 6 is Getting Results. This post contains references to products from one or more of our advertisers. Several luxury cruise lines are implementing new vaccine protocols, each requiring guests to show proof of having received a booster shot to board. Royal Caribbean up for a skirmish with Florida, arnival and Royal Caribbean salaries revealed: From $32,000 to $383,000, here's how much the cruise industry's power players pay some of their employees, announcing select "fully vaccinated" cruises, resulted in boycott demands in late March across Facebook and Twitter. Time is running out on free COVID tests and vaccines; what then. This includes more contagious variants that now have sorority and fraternity sounding names, as I recently covered for Forbes. Currently, Royal Caribbean requires travelers 12 and older to be vaccinated on U.S. cruises. Those who are unvaccinated or unable to verify vaccination will be required to undergo testing and follow other protocols, which will be announced at a later date.. In the U.S., kids younger than 5 are exempt from testing and vaccination requirements. The Miami Herald reported that Royal Caribbean International previously planned to only allow vaccinated passengers onto its ships, but announced in a Friday press release that they were.
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